Study Of C-Reactive Protein Levels In Vasculotoxic Snake Bite Patients

Abstract

Introduction-
Snakebites pose frequent medical emergencies and represent a significant occupational hazard in India, particularly in rural and suburban areas where agriculture is a major source of employment. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates a global annual incidence of 5.4 million snakebites, with approximately 2.7 million being venomous and 5% resulting in mortalities.
Snakebites, whether vasculotoxic, myotoxic, neurotoxic, cytotoxic, or a combination, are considered medical emergencies with consequences ranging from local tissue injury to multi-organ dysfunction. The occurrence of hematotoxic snake envenomation is primarily attributed to two Viperoid species: Russell’s viper and the Saw-scaled viper (Echis carinatus).
Vasculotoxic snake envenomation lead to necrotoxic, neurotoxic, and hematotoxic harm to the body, the mechanisms through which vasculotoxic snakebites contribute to illness.
Aim-To find out the relation between C-reactive protein (CRP) predicting the severity in snake bite (envenomation) patients
Objectives- To study the role of C-reactive protein (CRP) plasma levels in cases of snake envenomation. To study grades of envenomation based of serum CRP levels.
Predicting the severity of snake bite (envenomation) victims using serum CRP levels. To study serum CRP as prognostic indicator.
MATERIAL AND METHODOLOGY- This will be a single center hospital-based prospective observational study conducted in patients admitted to the Krishna hospital under medicine wards and ICU over a period of 18 months from 2 nd September 2022 to 29 th February 2024.
RESULT-The grade of envenomation in relation to CRP (C-reactive protein) levels shows distinct patterns across different severity categories. In cases with no envenomation, CRP was positive in 4.55% of cases compared to 20.59% where it was negative, with a significant.For mild envenomation, 25.76% had elevated CRP levels versus 38.24% without positive CRP. In moderate cases, 42.42% exhibited elevated CRP levels compared to 35.29% without elevation. Severe envenomation showed positive CRP in 27.27% of cases, contrasting with only 5.88% where CRP was negative. Outcomes based on CRP (C-reactive protein) positivity were analysed, revealing a significant association with mortality in snakebite envenomation cases.Cases where CRP was positive, 22.73% resulted in death, compared to only 2.94% in cases where CRP was negative.
CONCLUSION-Analysis of C-reactive protein levels revealed that 84% of study group survived, while 16% did not. Among cases where CRP levels were positive, the mortality rate was markedly higher as compared to cases with normal CRP levels. Positive CRP levels were significantly associated with severe envenomation. The CRP
Categories: Forensic Medicine, Internal Medicine